Ins and Outs of breastfeeding...

While this will be my third child, I never breastfed my other two children. Its just something I never really thought about. This time, it being my last child and a child with a new DH I am inspired do things differently than I am used to. Cloth diapers, breastfeed, use a wrap, etc. Now the only problem is I know nothing about breastfeeding. Can you lovely ladies shine some light on this?? Thank you so much!

Comments (38)

I love breastfeeding.Â I breastfed DS for a year and it was wonderful.Â It's hard at first, but it definitely gets easier and more natural.Â And no one else can have this bond with baby but you!

You should call your hospital and see if they offer a breastfeeding class.Â Mine offered a one-time class that was only $10.Â Also, contact a lactation consultant and develop a relationship with her/him.Â I called my lactation consultant probably at least once a month to check in, more often if I was having supply issues or any other problems.Â

If you do decide to BF, you'll be doing something wonderful for you and your baby!Â Good luck!

Thank you Danielle! I heard there are things you can and cant eat and that I have to pump every two hours or my milk will dry up...I am so clueless on this but I really want to try it. I will have to ask my hospital for more information.

Your hospital should have a lactation consultant you can talk to once baby is born (or before if you have some major questions you want answered). Â My main suggestions would be to have some lanolin for applying to chapped nipples, have lots of nursing pads (I used washable ones, but my sister preferred disposables), and nurse your baby how you and it are comfortable doing so. Â

The one thing our pedi told us after DS was to try doing 5 minutes on one side, then switch to the other and have baby finish up. Â Then next feeding, start with the last breast (the one baby finished up on) for 5 minutes, then switch to finish up on the other. Â This worked wonders for me and helped keep me from getting too sore. Â Also, she told me to only feed LO every 2 hours at the most because I was having problems with him latching on and eating a couple minutes, then wanting to eat again in a 1/2 hour. Â It was exhausting!

It may be a little sore to begin with, but once you and baby get the hang of it, things will go very smoothly. Â I know there were a few other posts about this already, so maybe search the birth club posts to find more info from other mommas. Â Good luck!

I am pregnant with #2, but I breastfed my son (who is now 2) until about 18 months. What helped me, was just being determined to breastfeed. The first weeks were the hardest....I nearly gave up, but I considered my "job" for the first few weeks of my son's leave to establish breastfeeding. I tried not to worry about anything else (household chores, etc.) Breastfeeding really does consume most of your time those first few weeks, since you never really know if the baby got enough...I remember days where I pretty much nursed for 4 hours straight. :( The teacher told us in childbirth class that you will spend 70-80 hours per week breastfeeding...I thought the teacher must have been exaggerating, but she really wasn't! In that class, they told us the most important thing to keep breastfeeding in those early days, is to have a good support system. If your partner doesn't support breastfeeding as much as you do and isn't willing to help with everything else (laundry, chores, etc.) so you can establish breastfeeding, then it will be much harder. What did help me get through was pumping from the beginning. This way, my dh was able to help out occasionally when I needed a break. Once you get past the intial first 4-6 weeks, it becomes much easier. You don't spend nearly as much time breastfeeding and become better at it so you can multitask. I think a lot of women just give up in those intial weeks so the key is to just be determined and keep at it.

LOL Liberty_belle!! I would think it would be very painful! After both my children's births, I got fevers because my breasts were so painful, swollen and hot...literally HOT! I cant imagine having a baby suck on them...OUCHHH!! But I am determined!!!

I wish people had told me it would be hard at first. Once we got the hang of it, it was so easy though. I was in tears at the hospital because we couldn't get it. I agree with trying to take a class. Your hospital will probably have a location specialist on hand to help you after delivery. Good luck!

Breastfeeding is not easy in the beginning. You have to really want it cause there will be challenges. For me. My dr told me my son was loosing weight and needed to be supplemented with formula. Everything I read up on said don't do that so I utilized my lactation consultant and even drove 1 hr to see her. So there I am crying in her office afraid I wouldn't be able to breast feed and she asks me to squirt my boob so she can see and I try and it's colosseum she said I didn't have my milk yet and not to worry cause I had good flow n not listen to the dr. She said if I was determined then I would have to feed my son every hr if need be. So exhausted I did for 3 days till my next apt. The dr weighed my son and said good to see the formula worked... I told him about the lactation lady and her advice and he was surprised and happy it worked and would now tell future patients. So I guess I taught him something as well. Lol. Needless to say everyday got easier and easier and I ended up feeding him till 17 months when I had emergency surgery that stopped me. With this one I intend to do the same. Cheap and easy! Just don't give up if it's something u really want. I even have a inverted nipple. Just work with the lactation consultant or la leche legue to help u through any problems!

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It kills you to see them grow up, but it would kill you quicker if they didn't." Amazed that I can love two just as much!

Breastfeeding operates on a supply and demand system.Â Your milk will not dry up if you don't pump every two hours.Â Changes are baby will want to nurse every 2-3 hours at first anyway.Â The more baby nurses, the more milk your body will naturally make.Â You might have to pump before bed once baby starts sleeping through the night and you're not nursing all night, and you may wake up engorged in the morning (some BF babies don't sleep through the night for a while, but we got lucky... DS started at 2 months!).Â

I also recommend you find someone who's willing to be your "cheerleader".Â Someone you can call at 3 AM if you're having trouble.Â I had someone offer this to me and it was wonderful.Â DH was wonderful and supportive, but sometimes it just helps to talk to someone who's been there.